Mud Dauber Wasps

Pest Control

USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station Archive, USDA Forest Service, SRS, Bugwood.orgThis is an ACTIVE Mud Dauber wasp nest. New Mud Daubers make holes in the nest as they emerge. Nests with holes in the after the spring are usually INACTIVE.

Most people want to kill a wasp when ever they’re near for fear of being stung… But Mud Dauber Wasps are RELUCTANT to STING, and don’t aggressively defend their nests. They RARELY STING people!

Mud Daubers are NOT social, and DO NOT live in colonies. Each nest has only 1 adult, dead spiders, and larva. They’re actually beneficial insects as they kill SPIDERS, but if nests are in areas near human activity Pest Control measures are warranted. Mud Dauber nests are constructed by females and are made out of MUD. Nests are TUBE like cell structures built about 3-4 inches long with several cells side by side, and totally plastered over with mud. Each nest cell has several spiders in them that the female has PARALYZED with her VENOM.

Typical places that Mud Dauber Wasp nests are in sheltered include:

When doing Pest Control on Mud Dauber wasp nests, it’s best to wait a few minutes for the female to leave. After application is completed, scrape the nest off with a putty knife or scraper, and sweep up the dislodged nest. {Nests should be removed, because if you leave an old nest up, it can be taken over by other wasps or bees.} Mud Dauber Wasps can be DISCOURAGED around your home and yard with regular pest control applications.